Drilling-tool for wells



H. H. MoLANE.

G TOOL FOR W UNITED STATES PATENT GFEIGE.

HIRAM H. MOLANE, OF SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS.

DRILLING-TOOL FOR WELLS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 403,952, dated May 28, 1889. Application filed February 28, 1889. Serial No. 301,431. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, HIRAM H. MCLANE, a citizen of the United States, residing at San Antonio, in the county of Bexar and State of Texas, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Tools for Drilling or Boring WVells, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to tools for drilling or boring Artesian, oil, and other deep wells; and it has for its object to prevent the loss of drill or anger or any portion of the drill-rods.

WVith this end in View the invention consists in the improved means for connecting the tool to the lower end of the drill-rod, which will be hereinafter more fully described, and particularly pointed out in the claims.

I11 the drawings, Figure 1 is a side View of the upper end of the drill or anger to which my invention has been attached. Fig. 2 is a side view of the lower end of the drill-rod. Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional View taken on the line w x and showingthe parts connected. Fig. 4 is a horizontal sectional View taken on the line 1 y of Fig. 3. Figs. 5, 6, 7, 8, and 9 are detail views illustrating the parts which are employed in carrying out my invention.

A designates the upper end of the drill, which is provided with either a cylindrical or, as in the drawings, a tapering screwthreaded portion, B, adapted to enter and engage the correspondingly-screw-threaded socket, O, in the lower end of the drill-rod D. The latter is provided at its lower end with an annular flange below the socket O and pro. vided with a series of notches, E, separated by the teeth F. The upper end of the drill is provided with an annular shoulder, G, below the screw-threaded portion B, and the side of the said drill is provided, near its upper end and adjacent to the said shoulder, with a recess, H, which may be of any desired shape, but which is preferably provided with shoulders I, as shown in the annexed drawings, for the purpose of retaining securely the correspondingly-shaped block J when the latter is placed in the said recess. The block J is provided with an integral bolt, M, serving to secure the said block J in its seat, and provided at its opposite end with a nut, N, for the reception of which a countersunk-recess,

O, is prepared in the opposite side of the drill. The block J is provided at its upper edge with a flange, P.

Q designates a locking-key, consisting of a block provided on opposite sides with the shoulders R and S, and having at its upper edge a notch, T, whereby teeth U U are formed, adapted to engage the notches E at the lower end of the drill-rod.

V V are small wooden keys provided with flanges NV, and adapted to be fitted adjoining the key Q, for the purpose of filling out empty spaces adjacent thereto. The said wooden keys may readily be cut down to the required size, as is self-evident.

The operation of this invention will be readily understood from the foregoing description, taken in connection with the drawings. After the drill has been screwed to its seat in the socket C the key Q is adjusted in the upper end of the recess H in such a manner that the teeth U of said key shall engage the notches E at the lower end of the drill-rod. The spaces adjacent to the key Q are then filled out by the wooden keys or wedges V, and the block J is then placed in position in its seat or recess H in such a manner that its flange P will overlap the lower ends of the key Q and the wedges V, which are thereby retained in position. The block J is finally secured by means of bolt M and nut N, and the device is then ready for operation.

It is well known that in devices of this class each time the drill is screwed to its seat in the socket of the drill-rod the screw-threads will yield slightly, and consequently cause the parts to be gradually screwed more closely to gether. By my invention the key Q may be readily adjusted so as to engage the notches in the drill-rod, no matter what the position of the latter may be, and retain it securely in such position, displacement of the said key being positively prevented by means of the wedges or washers V and the holding-block J. The construction of the device is simple, and its application to well-boring tools does not involve any great increase in the cost of their manufacture.

It will be ,understcod, of course, that this invention may be applied to shaft or rod couplings wherever such maybe required, and

that I do not limit myself to its application to well-boringtools, as herein described.

Having thus described my invention, I claim 1. The combination of the drill or shaft having a screw-threaded portion at its upper end, the drill-rod having a screw-threaded socket to receive the same and an annular notched flange below said socket, and a toothed key, adapted to be secured adj ustably to the drill, engaging the said notched flange, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

2. The combination of the drill or shaft having a screw-threaded portion at its upper end, the drill-rod having a correspondinglythreaded socket surrounded by a notched flange, a toothed key adapted to be secured adj ustably to the drill, Wedges adapted to be fitted at the sides of the said key, and a plate or block adapted to retain the said teeth and wedges in position, substantially as set forth.

3. The combination of the drillor shaft having a screw-threaded portion at its upper end and a recess adjacent thereto and provided with a transverse perforation extending from the bottom of said recess to the opposite side, a toothed key. having shoulders formed on opposite sides thereof, Wedges adapted to be fitted at the sides of said key, a shoulder block or plate adapted to retain said key and Wedges in the said recess, a bolt adapted to secure said plate in position, and the drill-rod having at its lower end a screW- threaded socket surrounded by a notched flange, the whole combined and arranged substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto affixed my signature in presence of two Witnesses.

HIRAM n. MCLAN'E.

Witnesses:

L. DIBBLE, FRANCES SMITH. 

